Soldiers receive bravery awards

British service men and women have been honoured for their bravery. A total of 131 members of the armed services received honours and awards in the Operation Honours List following tours across the world and incidents at home.

Corporal Carl Taylor was awarded the Military Cross for saving the lives of three children in Afghanistan. He explains how he saved the youngsters from harm. Cpl Taylor said he simply "acted on instinct".

A soldier who risked his life to save his comrades in Afghanistan has been awarded the Military Cross for his bravery.Corporal Keith Mitchell, of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, stood in open ground to draw enemy fire away from his comrades in an attack in Pulpalzay, Helmand, in March last year.

The 29-year-old abandoned the safety of cover behind a wall and stood up in open ground, so the enemy began firing at him instead.

With rounds raining down on him, he fired three accurate rifle grenades to suppress the enemy position, managing to either destroy or damage their capabilities. Firing ceased immediately allowing the wounded men to be evacuated.

Cpl Taylor, who is 25, of 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was a month into his tour of Afghanistan when the incident took place in the village of Popalzay in Helmand Province on March 10 last year.

Corporal Baljit Limbu, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles received a Mention in Despatches for his courage in rescuing a wounded comrade despite being injured himself.

The 32-year-old was at the back of a patrol in the Nahr-e-Saraj area of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan last June when he and a fellow Gurkha were hit by a massive improvised explosive device (IED) blast.